Man arrested after trying to sell leopard and bear parts online

A man has been arrested after police discovered body parts from animals including a leopard and a bear at a house in Fife.

The 49-year-old is accused of trying to sell parts of the exotic creatures on the internet.

Items were recovered from the property in Cowdenbeath during a police raid and were identified after being taken away for expert analysis.

PC Lindsay Kerr, wildlife and environmental crime officer at Police Scotland’s Fife Division, said it was an unusual case.

He said: “It is really quite rare, particularly in this part of the world, for someone to be involved in this kind of illegal and very damaging trade.

“However, acting on intelligence, Police Scotland and the National Wildlife Crime Unit carried out a thorough investigation and have arrested a 49-year-old man who is due to appear in court at a later date.

“My advice to anyone who is involved in the illegal sale of protected species is not to take the risk.

“It is a criminal offence and we investigate all reports of wildlife crime with the aim of ensuring that those involved in any black market activities are arrested.